Grain cleaning mechanism



May 16, 1933. A. J. HARTLEY GRAIN CLEANING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 16, 1933. J HARTLEY 1,909,351

GRAIN CLEANING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1950. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lN'xZ'ENT D E.

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Patented May 16, 1933 trier.

PAT-BN1? ARTHUR J. HARTLEY, OF .PEORIA, ILLINOIS GRAIN CLEANING MECHANISM Application filed'May 19,

' This invention relates to grain cleanin devices. I One of the objects of the invention hes in the provision of a grain cleaning device com;

being so arranged in connection with a framing structure as to perrnlt immediate removability thereof and subsequent attachment of a cylinder having a different size mesh, this for the purpose of handling various kinds of grain within a single cleaning device.

Still another object lies in the provision of a grain cleaning device comprising a r0tatable mechanism for agitating and conveying grain, a readily demountable perforated cylinder surrounding said agitating mechanism, the same being adapted to be removed and re placed with a cylinder of difierent mesh and a manually removable covering for the detachable cylinder permitting ready entrance to the device for the purpose of changing the cylinder.

A still further object lies in the provision of a grain cleaning device comprising a framing portion, a split perforated cylinder 40 secured thereto in such manner that the opposed ends of the split cylinder will have a detachable connection with the framing portion, thus permitting ready removal of the perforated cylinder and subsequent attach 4 ment thereto of a cylinder of different mesh, a grain-inlet spout, a grain delivery portion, mechanism for agitating the grain against the interior surface of the perforated cylinder, as well as moving the grain continuously therethrough, a manually removable cover tember 30, 1929, Patent No. 1,774,710, Sep- 1930. Serial No. 453,676.

permitting ready entrance to the interior of thedevice for the purpose of detachment of the perforated cylinder and a conveyor portion for removing the weed seeds and extra neous matter from the device.

' Other objects will appear in the following specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- F 1 is a plan view of my grain cleaning device;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with a portion thereof cut away for the purpose of showing the interior construction of the device;

. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; o

. Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing in detail the manually removable cover;

Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is an. elevational view showing the quickly demountable perforated cylinder;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 8 is a sectional diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of removing the cover portion as well as the manner of detachment of the perforated cylinder for the purpose of subsequent attachment of a cylinder having difierent mesh to accommodate the machine for handling grains of different character.

Before referring specifically to the drawings, it might be said that the present grain cleaning device generally conforms to the grain cleaning structure which applicant has disclosed and claimed in his co-pending application, Serial Number 396,068, filed Sep 0 tember 2, 1980. However, the present grain cleaning device has the additional feature and advantage of being able to handle grains of different kinds and condition.

It is obvious that harvesting conditions are not always the same from a climatic standpoint, and therefore the grain which is adapted to be handled by the cleaning device may be either in a dry condition or one of varied degree of moisture. Further the cleaning may be required to be performed upon grains of dilierent character.

The present applicant, in order to adapt his machine not only to the handling of different kinds of grain but also grains in different condition, has provided a quickly demountable feature for his grain cleaning device, which comprehends the quick removal and ready attachment to the cleaner of perforated cylinders having different sizes of perforations or mesh. Further, the machine isso constructed as to permit such quick demountable feature with a minimum of efiort in view of the fact that the housing for the cylinder is also of a manually removable character.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a disclosure is made therein of applicants previously described and claimed grain cleaning device, which includes end portions 10, a

bottom portion 11 downwardly fashioned in a hopper like manner, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, such hopper being adapted to receive at its lowest point a conveyor 12 driven continuously in connection with the operation of the cleaner.

The conveyor obviously has the function of carrying off the Weed seeds and other extraneous waste material during the grain cleaning operation.

Horizontally disposed in the device and connected to the end portions comprising a portion of the framing, is the brace 13, over which is positioned a bifurcated metal attachment portion 14. To this attachment portion 14 is adapted to be connected in aquickly detachable manner the perforated split grain cleaning cylinder 15, which is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and is formed not only, as stated, in a split manner but with the opposed ends upstanding in the manner shown at 16. The upstanding attachment ends 16 of the split perforated cylinder are apertured, as is the attachment member 14, to receive the plural bolt members 17. The manner of attachment of the perforated cylinder to the brace and attachment portions 13 and 1 1 is thought obvious in, view of the above as well as the feature of quick detachability, which permits the perforated cylinder 15 to be not only readily removed but also to be immediately replaced with a cylinder having perforations of different size or mesh.

lVithin the stationary quickly detachable cylinder 15 is disposed a plural bladed por tion 18 fixedly secured as at 19 to a rotating shaft portion 20 having suitable beari ng portions in the end plates 10. The means ior rotating the bladed portions as well as the previously mentioned conveyor member 12, because of its conventionality, has not been shown but obviously comprehends merely a belt connection with the driving mechanism of the combine, upon which this character of grain cleaning device is primarily adapted to be used.

The rotating bladed portion 18 is fashioned not only to agitate the grain against the interior surface of the perforated cylinder for the purpose of the cleaning operation but also, is so arranged as to move the grain continuously through the device. 7

An incoming grain spout 21 is shown in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 3 a plurality of rotating grain delivery cups or members 22 adapted to force the cleaned grain out the spout 23 and into a grain registering device 24, only the housing of which has been shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Means permitting ready removal and replacement of the perforated cylinder 15 is found in the manually removable cover por tion 25, the same being formed to enclose the major portion of the cylinder and to permit the extraneous matter forced through the cylinder to drop directly into the hopper portion in which the conveyor member lies. This cover is shown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 5, wherein the lower and attachment ends 26 thereof are spread in an angular manner in order to find a ready seating upon the framing and hopper portions, this connection being perhaps best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Generally, it may be said that the cover is also of a quickly detachable character and by means of the handle portions 27 may be grasped by the operator and removed quickly in order that the operator may immediate,- ly thereafter remove the bolts 17, detach the perforated cylinder and replace same with one'having a different mesh.

In view of the above description, it is hardly thought necessary to explain the operation of the present grain cleaning device other than to say that whenever desirable, due to a changed condition of the grain whichis being handled by the device, the operator may remove the cover portion 25, thereafter detach the perforated cylinder 15 and replace it with a cylinder of different size mesh. The manner of removal of the cylinder has been perhaps best shown in Fig. 8, and due to the flexibility of said cylinder, the same may be withdrawn from about the bladed agitating and grain moving portion in the manner shown in said figure.

What I claim is:

In a grain cleaning mechanism, a frame, a

longitudinal horizontal bracing member secured to said frame, a split perforated cylinder having its opposed ends bent outwardly so as to form substantially parallel radial flanges, said flanges being arranged one on each side of said bracing member, readily detachable means extending through said flanges and bracing member to secure the cylinder to the bracing member, said frame having a substantially horizontal trough below said cylinder, a removable cover on said frame above said cylinder, and means on said cover engaging the upper edges of the trough to support the cover on the frame, whereby said cover is removable by a simple vertical lift.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ARTHUR J HARTLEY. 

